Checks often pass through many banks before they come to the bank on which they are drawn, and each bank has placed its indorsement on such checks. In each case the name of every bank was registered either as payer or indorser. Perhaps but one in every two thousand of these records will need to be referred to in case of a lost item and about one in five hundred on account of dishonor. A lot of writing is thus necessary, but seldom used. To reduce this labor to a minimum the "Universal Numerical System" was adopted. A distinctive number has been given every bank in the United States under a definite, simple, well-ordered plan. This number, consisting of a prefix - designating city or State - and a second figure denoting the individual bank, is placed at the right of the title on the face of the check, and at the lower left-hand corner of drafts near the name of the paying bank. On indorsement stamps the number is placed on each side of the name of the bank. Designating places and banks by numbers instead of names is a time-saver and is being rapidly adopted by the banks. The saving in time can easily be seen when to indicate the "Continental and Commercial National Bank, Chicago, Illinois," only the numerals 2-3 are needed. The "2" means city No. 2 (Chicago) and the "3" shows that the Continental and Commercial is bank No. 3 in the clearing house. Under this plan the clerks do not have to commit a long list of numbers to memory, for they are printed on the check. If an item is lost, and it is necessary to refer to the numerical record, the bank directory or "key to the system" will show what bank the numbers designate. Some banks also, for the same purpose, give individual numbers to those customers habitually depositing a large number of transit items. The extent to which the system may be used is left entirely to the individual bank. Some use it entirely, others only partially as suits their needs. But all banks should see that their checks, drafts and indorsement stamps show the number, so that any bank may use the system without having to supply missing numbers, just as a person puts the street number on his house for the convenience of his callers.